Category Archives: Business

Post navigation

We’ve all heard the stories or experienced them first-hand. The 24-year-old with a political science degree working as a barista at Starbucks. The math major waiting tables at the diner. The English B.A. living with her parents because she can’t find a teaching job.

To be sure, your prospects are even worse if you only have a high school diploma. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for high school grads age 20 to 24 with no college under their belts was 17.9% in 2012, compared to 7.7% for those with college degrees. But it’s still rough out there for college grads, and student debt burdens continue to rise. Those who graduated in 2011 are carrying an average of $26,600 in debt, according to the non-profitProject on Student Debt. That’s up from $25,000 the previous year. Meantime, though wages for new grads ticked up in the last year, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, over the long run pay has come down. According to a 2012 study by the Economic Policy Institute, the hourly wage for new college grads fell over the last decade by 11% for men, to $21.68 and 6.7% for women, to $18.80.

With those challenging statistics in mind, in some cities it easier for new college grads to find both a job and affordable rental housing. A new ranking from Rent.com, a rental housing listing site, looks at the top 25 markets with the most rental listings, and then compares figures for unemployment, cost of living and annual mean wages. The research relies on information from the BLS, the Census Bureau and Rent.com’s own apartment rental database. From those numbers, Rent.com came up with a list of ten cities where young grads would be most likely to find housing, work and a reasonable paycheck. Rent.com gave double weight to the unemployment rate. Here are Rent.com’s top ten cities for college graduates, with unemployment and wage figures from the BLS. These are the top ten cities, in no particular order:

Share this:

While technology may allow us to scale businesses exponentially (once we have identified the appropriate formula), hiring the right talent is still the most fundamental aspect of building a thriving business. The HR function of being a startup founder is perhaps the role we are least equipped to play. But it is, in my opinion, the most important.

Here are five tips for attracting and retaining talent that will support your vision, complement your strengths, and ultimately make your life easier – not harder:

1. Do some recon. Most talented people, unless they are fresh off the school boat, have a legacy. Chances are you can get to solid references via LinkedIn or your personal networks. Put on your CIA-slash-journalist hat and contact people your candidate has either worked with in the past or currently work with. Ask open-ended questions that allow references to draw their own conclusions without being forced into a yes or no answer.

2. Put them to work. Want to understand how someone will operate within the framework of your company? Give them a small project and see if they can hit a deadline. If it’s a developer related role, invite them to participate in an impromptu company hackathon. You get a pretty good idea of someone’s true colors after they are pulled out of their comfort zone. If excuses continually come up then they most likely aren’t the right fit. It’s not you. It’s them. Keep in mind, simply interviewing someone isn’t enough, and your gut can be wrong more often than you realize.

3. Are they are a culture fit? Start ups don’t often have a defined culture. But it’s there. During the early stages of building a company, it’s extremely important that new hires understand the pace, values, and vision of the company – even if unspoken.

Lou Gerstner is famous for giving powerful insights on hiring. In one of my favorite talks, I watched him draw a 2 by 2 matrix, where Talent/Ability made up one axis, and Culture/Fit made up the other axis. In a startup, anyone who isn’t outstanding in both can quite literally derail your efforts. No matter what, resist the urge to hire the genius that is also a “cultural disaster.” It will rip your company apart.

4. Assess characteristics and traits. You want personal characteristics that mimic business traits. If you’re hiring someone as your startup CFO to run a shoestring budget, it would be nice if they didn’t enjoy lighting their own money on fire. Again, these are all subjective. Make it easy on yourself. Find someone that lives/breathes/eats the traits that you want your business to exude. Three things I look for:

Special talent: What is the one capability they possess that no one else does? What is the skill that will enable them to provide leadership in a particular area of the company?

Willing to contradict you: This is crucial. Leaders can be wrong…frequently. When the team doesn’t step up to let the leader know, the business fails.

Smarter than you: Always hire A+ players. If you don’t for reasons you can control, then congratulations, at least now you know you’re a C player yourself.

5. Love ‘em or leave ‘em. In the end, humans make the world go ’round, and no matter how disruptive or groundbreaking your tech, people still run the show. Building a great team is imperative to early company success. If someone isn’t a fit, it’s time to say goodbye. Nicely, but quickly.

Share this:

Here are some great ways to pump up your exercise, eat better and live a healthier life.

Here are some workout, nutrition and lifestyle strategies for men and women from The Best Diet & Fitness Tips magazine, The magazine is the first in a new series of USA TODAY publications called The Best.

Write down goals — a savings dollar amount or a target weight — on your bathroom mirror using a dry-erase marker. This simple act both helps confirm your commitment and serves as an easy and fun reminder to start each day with purpose.

Get a dog. Research from Michigan State University shows that man’s best friend can be a powerful motivator to get us to exercise. The researchers found that study participants who owned dogs were more likely to be active than those who did not. In fact, the study found that 60% of dog owners meet federal criteria for regular, moderate or vigorous exercise, compared with around 30% of people who don’t have a dog.

Head outdoors. Burn calories when you chill out. A study found that going for a 20-minute al-fresco stroll twice a week was more restorative than getting the same exercise in an indoor environment like a mall.

Heavy, light, heavy, light. To hit the entire spectrum of muscle fibers, set your workouts so that you train heavy one day, then lighter with more reps later in the week.

Train with like-minded people. Working out in a gym with an intense atmosphere, surrounded by people who are equally as passionate about achieving their goals as you are, may push you further and do more for your progress than another factor.

Stay hydrated. Start the day with at least 16 ounces of water. It’s filling, and getting more will improve your recovery after workouts. Aim for one gallon per day.

Cut calories from chicken. Cooking up skinless poultry for dinner is an affordable, easy and fast way to get in quality muscle-building protein. To make it even better for you, skip the swirl of oil and use a tablespoon of water to coat your non-stick plan instead. Cover with a lid and let the chicken steam, then flavor with herbs and spices for a perfectly guilt-free meal.

Eat the oat. You know better than to skip breakfast and risk noshing on extra calories throughout the day. And while oatmeal is a great way to start your morning, you should always aim for balance in every meal. For a little protein and healthy fat, add slivered almonds, and for some fruit, throw in fresh or frozen berries or raisins.

Cultivate gratefulness. Start each day by remembering any experience that recently made you happy — the birthday card you got from an old friend, the compliment your colleague gave you or the tasty new recipe you cooked for dinner. “When negative events happen, people who regularly practice gratitude cope more positively,” says psychologist Alex Wood from the U.K.’s University of Manchester. “They’re less likely to run away from the problem or pretend it’s not happening.”

Curl up with a book. Six minutes could be all it takes to curb that frenzied feeling by 60%, say British researchers. So catch up on your overdue reading — even if you have to do it one chapter at a time.

Share this:

Every startup needs access to capital, whether for funding product development, for initial rollout efforts, acquiring inventory, or paying that first employee. Most entrepreneurs think first of bank loans as the primary source of money, only to find out that banks are really the least likely benefactors for startups. Thus “creative” really means maximizing non-bank financing.

While sizing up the alternatives, I couldn’t help but pick up a new book by Karlene Sinclair-Robinson with the creative title of “Spank the Bank: The Guide to Alternative Business Financing.” She plumbs the range of possibilities she has gained through personal experience as an entrepreneur, and as the “queen of business financing” in the financial industry.

The alternatives are many, but they are not easy. The most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who think creatively, not only about their offering, but also about how to acquire cash, and never say never. They have to sell themselves, more than their product, to close on every alternative source of funding. Here are ten top sources from Karlene, and my own experience:

Personal financing. You may not think this is very creative, but I’m amazed at the number of “wannabe” entrepreneurs who haven’t thought about saving any money before they start, or wouldn’t think of using their own savings to start a business. No investor I know will put money into a deal if they see that you have no “skin in the game.”

Personal credit lines. You qualify for a secured personal credit line based on your personal credit efforts. Credit cards can usually be acquired with even less history. We all know startups that have been built on one or both of these. The advantage is that you retain total ownership and control, as long as you make minimum payments.

Family and friends. These are people who should believe in you, without waiting to see if your idea works, or waiting until you have real customers, revenue, and hard assets. These commitments should always be positioned in writing as promissory notes, or so-called bridge-loans, which convert to equity at a rate determined by later investors.

Peer-to-peer lending. This is a process whereby a group of people comes together to lend money to each other. It’s been around many years, in examples like small business groups or ethnic groups supporting similar efforts. In the startup context, look for a successful entrepreneur peer willing to fund similar new ideas.

Crowdfunding. Here you use the power of the Internet to find a crowd of like-minded people, with small amounts each, to back your efforts. This approach is now spreading beyond non-profits, pre-sales, and memento rewards, to soon include the ability to make small equity investments via the JOBS Act passed last year.

Microloans. There are many private companies and non-profits that offer small loans, up to $35,000, to promote entrepreneurship, to individuals who would not normally quality for bank financing. Examples include Patriot Express loans, and Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) loans.

Vendor financing. If you need tangible products for inventory, many manufacturers and distributors can be convinced to defer your payment until the goods are sold by you. This really means an extension of the normal 30-day payment terms to a period of months or longer, depending on your credit worthiness and extra fees.

Purchase order financing. The most common scaling problem faced by startups is the inability to accept a large new order, since they don’t have the cash to build and deliver the product. PO financing companies will often advance the required funds directly to the supplier, allowing the transaction to complete and profit to flow to the startup.

Factoring accounts receivables. This is similar in concept to PO financing, but applies the advance to unpaid amounts not yet due or collected from customers. In high volume startups starting to scale up, this will provide cash on your sales immediately, rather than waiting for 30 to 60 days or longer for payment.

IRA financing. Investment Retirement Account funds and 401(k)s are arguably the single most accessible alternative funding source available today for startups. You can’t use your own self-directed funds for your startup, but many others are willing and able to loan you money from theirs, for the right terms, if they believe in you and your cause.

Note that we haven’t yet mentioned the more conventional and less creative finance approaches of Angel and venture capital investors. For new entrepreneurs, these sources usually have very little interest in early-stage or seed financing, preferring the lesser risk of a proven business model, with real revenue and customers, ready to scale. Yet creative thinking wins here also.

Karlene Sinclair-Robinson via SmallBusinessFundingGuide.com

Share this:

Leadership is learned behavior that becomes unconscious and automatic over time. For example, leaders can make several important decisions about an issue in the time it takes others to understand the question. Many people wonder how leaders know how to make the best decisions, often under immense pressure. The process of making these decisions comes from an accumulation of experiences and encounters with a multitude of difference circumstances, personality types and unforeseen failures. More so, the decision making process is an acute understanding of being familiar with the cause and effect of behavioral and circumstantial patterns; knowing the intelligence and interconnection points of the variables involved in these patterns allows a leader to confidently make decisions and project the probability of their desired outcomes. The most successful leaders are instinctual decision makers. Having done it so many times throughout their careers, they become immune to the pressure associated with decision making and extremely intuitive about the process of making the most strategic and best decisions. This is why most senior executives will tell you they depend strongly upon their “gut-feel” when making difficult decisions at a moment’s notice.

Beyond decision making, successful leadership across all areas becomes learned and instinctual over a period of time. Successful leaders have learned the mastery of anticipating business patterns, finding opportunities in pressure situations, serving the people they lead and overcoming hardships. No wonder the best CEOs are paid so much money. In 2011, salaries for the 200 top-paid CEOs rose 5 percent to a median $14.5 million per year, according to a study by compensation-data company Equilar for The New York Times.

If you are looking to advance your career into a leadership capacity and / or already assume leadership responsibilities – here are 15 things you must do automatically, every day, to be a successful leader in the workplace:

1. Make Others Feel Safe to Speak-Up

Many times leaders intimidate their colleagues with their title and power when they walk into a room. Successful leaders deflect attention away from themselves and encourage others to voice their opinions. They are experts at making others feel safe to speak-up and confidently share their perspectives and points of view. They use theirexecutive presence to create an approachable environment.

2. Make Decisions

Successful leaders are expert decision makers. They either facilitate the dialogue to empower their colleagues to reach a strategic conclusion or they do it themselves. They focus on “making things happen” at all times – decision making activities that sustain progress. Successful leaders have mastered the art of politicking and thus don’t waste their time on issues that disrupt momentum. They know how to make 30 decisions in 30 minutes.

3. Communicate Expectations

Successful leaders are great communicators, and this is especially true when it comes to “performance expectations.” In doing so, they remind their colleagues of the organization’s core values and mission statement – ensuring that their vision is properly translated and actionable objectives are properly executed.

I had a boss that managed the team by reminding us of the expectations that she had of the group. She made it easy for the team to stay focused and on track. The protocol she implemented – by clearly communicating expectations – increased performance and helped to identify those on the team that could not keep up with the standards she expected from us.

4. Challenge People to Think

The most successful leaders understand their colleagues’ mindsets, capabilities and areas for improvement. They use this knowledge/insight to challenge their teams to think and stretch them to reach for more. These types of leaders excel in keeping their people on their toes, never allowing them to get comfortable and enabling them with the tools to grow.

If you are not thinking, you’re not learning new things. If you’re not learning, you’re not growing – and over time becoming irrelevant in your work.

5. Be Accountable to Others

Successful leaders allow their colleagues to manage them. This doesn’t mean they are allowing others to control them – but rather becoming accountable to assure they are being proactive to their colleagues needs.

Beyond just mentoring and sponsoring selected employees, being accountable to others is a sign that your leader is focused more on your success than just their own.

6. Lead by Example

Leading by example sounds easy, but few leaders are consistent with this one. Successful leaders practice what they preach and are mindful of their actions. They know everyone is watching them and therefore are incredibly intuitive about detecting those who are observing their every move, waiting to detect a performance shortfall.

7. Measure & Reward Performance

Great leaders always have a strong “pulse” on business performance and those people who are the performance champions. Not only do they review the numbers and measure performance ROI, they are active in acknowledging hard work and efforts (no matter the result). Successful leaders never take consistent performers for granted and are mindful of rewarding them.

8. Provide Continuous Feedback

Employees want their leaders to know that they are paying attention to them and they appreciate any insights along the way. Successful leaders always provide feedback and they welcome reciprocal feedback by creating trustworthy relationships with their colleagues.. They understand the power of perspective and have learned the importance of feedback early on in their career as it has served them to enable workplace advancement.

9. Properly Allocate and Deploy Talent

Successful leaders know their talent pool and how to use it. They are experts at activating the capabilities of their colleagues and knowing when to deploy their unique skill sets given the circumstances at hand.

10. Ask Questions, Seek Counsel

Successful leaders ask questions and seek counsel all the time. From the outside, they appear to know-it-all – yet on the inside, they have a deep thirst for knowledge and constantly are on the look-out to learn new things because of their commitment to making themselves better through the wisdom of others.

11. Problem Solve; Avoid Procrastination

Successful leaders tackle issues head-on and know how to discover the heart of the matter at hand. They don’t procrastinate and thus become incredibly proficient at problem solving; they learn from and don’t avoid uncomfortable circumstances (they welcome them).

Getting ahead in life is about doing the things that most people don’t like doing.

12. Positive Energy & Attitude

Successful leaders create a positive and inspiring workplace culture. They know how to set the tone and bring an attitude that motivates their colleagues to take action. As such, they are likeable, respected and strong willed. They don’t allow failures to disrupt momentum.

13. Be a Great Teacher

Many employees in the workplace will tell you that their leaders have stopped being teachers. Successful leaders never stop teaching because they are so self-motivated to learn themselves. They use teaching to keep their colleagues well-informed and knowledgeable through statistics, trends, and other newsworthy items.

Successful leaders take the time to mentor their colleagues and make the investment to sponsor those who have proven they are able and eager to advance.

Leaders share the harvest of their success to help build momentum for those around them.

15. Genuinely Enjoy Responsibilities

Successful leaders love being leaders – not for the sake of power but for the meaningful and purposeful impact they can create. When you have reached a senior level of leadership – it’s about your ability to serve others and this can’t be accomplished unless you genuinely enjoy what you do.

In the end, successful leaders are able to sustain their success because these 15 things ultimately allow them to increase the value of their organization’s brand – while at the same time minimize the operating risk profile. They serve as the enablers of talent, culture and results.

Decide which ones of these you are good at and which ones you need to work on!

To be a great leader you will be aware of and working on these continuously!

Share this:

Challenges confront each of us every day. They come in all shapes and sizes. The thing that really matters for each and every one of them is…..

How much emphasis and meaning do we attach to them and how do we use our minds to resolve them.

We can make a long list of things that could create negative images if we let them.

Is it:

Our Weaknesses?

Our Physical Flaws?

Fears?

Mistakes that we have made?

Hatred for something or someone?

Sadness from an event or loss?

One person may put a mountain of emphasis on the same set of facts that someone else applies no meaning at all to. The key is to remember you are in control and you create your vision, attitude and mindset.

As Biziness Owners, Executives, Managers, Employees and Students we could worry all day long about a variety of things.

Your positive mental outlook will allow you to power through these thoughts and make the day productive and profitable.

Try this process Every Morning and see how it can positively shape your day.

Start out by describing things in your life that you feel stuck with (A). After jotting down the sticking point describe how you can take control to correct the situation (B).

For Example:

(A) I feel like I am so wrapped up in work that I am neglecting my children.

(B) I CHOOSE to plan a trip this weekend to the lake and go fishing and boating with my Son and Daughter.

After getting through the areas you feel stuck spend a little time writing down what you Appreciate in your life.

For Example:

I Appreciate the team I have assembled at my Company that work hard all day to accomplish our goals.

I Appreciate the Strength I have to get through difficult situations.

Try to put together a list of 9-10 things that you truly appreciate. You will find that this puts you in a great positive mindset allowing you to tackle the day!

Share this:

Top business Leaders and successful Managers use specific words to achieve success. They also avoid certain words and phrases.

Here are 10 phrases to stop using now:

1. “I can’t do that” or “That’s Impossible” or “That can’t be done”

These negative phrases are perceived by others as unconstructive and even stubborn. Instead say “Let me check on that for you” or “What I can do is…” Be positive is the mindset here.

2. “You should have….” or “You could have…” or “You ought to have…”

These phrases imply blame, figure pointing and fault. There is no quicker way to upset a boss, colleague or customer. Instead try these phrases in a more collaborative approach: “Please help me understand why…” I understand your challenges; let’s resolve this together…”

3. “That’s not my job” or “I don’t get paid enough for this” or That’s not my problem”

If you’re asked to do something for your boss, it’s because it’s important to them. Reply by saying, “I’ll be glad to help you accomplish that, I have been working on project A,B and C what should I put on the back burner while I work on this new item? This clearly communicates priority, reminds the boss of your current workload and subtly implies realistic expectations.

4. “I may be wrong, but…” or “This may be a dumb question, but…” or I’m not sure about this, but…” or “This may be a silly idea, but…”

Eliminate the prefacing phrase that demeans or negates what you are about to say. Drop the “but” and just make your statement. This is much more powerful.

5. “I’ll Try”

As we all heard in Star Wars from Yoda while he was training Luke Skywalker….“There is no TRY only DO” Don’t tell your boss that “You will try to get that report done by Friday.” Tell him “I’ll have that report on your desk by the end of the day Friday” The TRY is not helping you.

6. “I Think”

You can start to see the trend I’m conveying. Strong powerful language will help you get to where you want to go. Eliminate the weak wording. Which of these two statements do you find more effective? “I think you might like this new solution” or “I am confident you’re going to like this new solution” Eliminate the weak words “think” and “might” that sound unsure and undermine your credibility.

7. “… don’t you think” or “…Isn’t it?” or “…OK?”

Make your statement or recommendation with certainty and avoid tacking on the approval –seeking question. Don’t say “I think we should proceed using this new procedure, Ok?” Instead, make a declaration: “We’ll proceed using this proposed procedure”

8. “I don’t have time…”

Other than being rude and abrupt, this phrase tells the person they’re less important to you than the other things you have going on. Instead say “I’d be glad to discuss this with you. I’m working on a deadline this morning. May I stop by your office this afternoon around 3pm to discuss this with you?”

9. Another kind of “….but…”

The use of but will negate what you said prior to it. Imagine your significant other saying to you “Honey, I love you, but….” Similarly, imagine if a salesperson said “Yes, our implementation process is fast, easy and affordable… but we can’t install it until June. Replace the “but” with “and” and listen to the difference: ““Yes, our implementation process is fast, easy and affordable… and we can install it as early as June.

10. “He’s a jerk” or She’s lazy” or “This company stinks”

These negative judgments can tank a career quickly. If a genuine complaint or issue needs to be brought to someone’s attention, do so with tact and facts not your opinion on the matter. For example, when discussing a co-worker’s tardiness with your boss, don’t say “She is lazy” Instead say, “I’ve noticed Susan has been an hour late every morning this month.” This comment states an observable fact and avoids disparaging language.

Read these tips and begin practicing them. Your mindset needs to be confident and powerful not weak and submissive. Getting yourself in the correct mindset will help you choose the more powerful language!

Source: Darlene Price, author of Well Said! Presentations and Conversations That Get Results

Share this:

Last Fall I was invited to a golf outing for a local charity at one of the more Posh Country Clubs in town. Typically I golf with my buddies once a week and it is a very casual affair. This particular Fall day was a bit chilly. I chose to wear a light jacket and Jeans.

I got there, hit a few balls on the driving range and soon noticed that I was the only guy in jeans! I began to wonder if I might get kicked off by the Pro. The other guys didn’t really look that impressive, it was a sea of dockers, rumpled khaki pants and wind breakers. Many of these guys were CEO’s and Executives with local firms. It didn’t take long to realized I needed a better plan.

If you have been following this blog, you understand that I put a lot of emphasis on attitude, presence and putting yourself in a position to use your strength to get what you want. It was not a good strength move looking like I just got out of the bar at this Country Club event.

I called a good friend of mine who always is sporting the latest tour gear. He wears golf clothes that are cool and in fashion. I have to admit he has a golf game that is good enough for the days he wears his Pink Puma Garb too!

Jeff told me to take a look at TrendyGolf.com. I went online looked over the clothes and ordered a few items. They showed up quickly and the clothes were awesome. I ordered the wrong size in a few things and the return process was a breeze! I have since ordered shoes, shorts, pants, jackets and even a few liners I use when I go skiing. Their stuff is high quality and priced right.

Next season I should be ready for anything! Go to the site and take a look. They have both Men’s and Women’s clothing and much much more.

I have no ownership in TrendyGolf.com and they are not compensating me to write this. I only pass it along because I think you will enjoy the site and the service and pricing are Outstanding!

Share this:

You only live once. No time like the present. You’re not getting any younger.

How often do you hear things like this? What are people trying to tell you when they say things like this to you?

Life is short and you had better learn how to Maximize your time and resources.

Many business owners and successful business people have a difficult time living this concept. I hear people say all the time “As soon as I accomplish “X” I will slow down or take that long vacation.” Many times they never allow themselves to get to that magical plateau and really enjoy life.

I am a big believer in maximizing everything I do. That doesn’t mean that I fill up every minute of my life with great fun things, but I am very aware of this and give it a tremendous amount of my attention.

Freeing up your time starts with making sure you are spending time on your businesses success NOT in your business’s daily routines. Chances are that you are successful because of your ideas, personality, leadership or vision and not because you can work long hours at a desk or in meetings poring over reports. Don’t get sucked into your business and convince yourself that if you didn’t do these things your business would not be as successful as it is. There are plenty of talented people out there that can perform those duties at a fraction of what you should be “billing out” at. I would challenge you to Increase your awareness today and begin to measure and evaluate how you spend your time and begin carving out time that can be shifted to maximizing your life. I have found that the time I spend away from my desk tends to be a time where my mind is more open and ideas flow more freely.

As this shift begins we all need to decide what we will do with this new found freedom. Some of the most rewarding times are those spent with Family and Friends. Don’t underestimate the power of time spent alone either. Time alone has proven to be very powerful and rewarding.

Maximization Tips:

Plan, Plan, Plan. If you want to squeeze every drop out of life, you will need to take the lead. You must plan the trips and get togethers with your friends and family. Don’t wait for them to call you, which will waste your precious time. This goes for trips to Europe as well as a 45 minute happy hour after work. Decide how you want to spend your time and then you schedule it!

Get as much information as you can when planning your getaways. This includes friends, family and of course the web. This will help insure that your time away is maximized with things and an agenda you will enjoy.

Don’t be afraid to spend a little more in certain areas. To truly maximize your life and get the most out of it you will need to spend a little more money on certain things. Flying First Class to Hong Kong allows the “trip” to start from the time you get on the plane rather than when you finally get there. Eating at that 5 star restaurant really steps up your experience compared to various other choices. A room upgrade at the hotel may be a much more enjoyable experience. However, the $1,000 per night suite may be more than you need and money could be better used elsewhere. Get the idea? Actively plan how to best use your resources to maximize the time spent. Sometimes that means planning a truly maximized less expensive domestic trip and doing Europe next year.

I have noticed that some of the most enjoyable and rewarding activities don’t really cost a lot of money. This will help in the realization that you don’t need to be filthy rich or need to get to that magical plateau to Maximize and enjoy your life.

I enjoy an afternoon of zipping through Iowa’s Loews Hills on motorcycles with friends or catching a Creighton Basketball game with my son. When you start to think about it, some of the most rewarding and fun times are spent just hanging out with those you care about. But YOU need to schedule it!

Action Steps

Become aware of how you are spending your time.

Begin to eliminate the things that are not important or that you can delegate to others.

Use your free time to maximize your business activities and personal time.